For other uses, see Balm of Gilead (disambiguation).

Cedronella is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Mentheae of the family Lamiaceae, comprising a single species, Cedronella canariensis, native to the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira. It is also naturalized in various places (South Africa, St. Helena, New Zealand, California).[2] Common names include Canary Islands-balm,[3] Canary balm, and Balm-of-Gilead.[4]

It is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 1–1.5 m tall. The distinctive feature of these plants is the compound leaves consisting of 3 leaflets, unusual in the Lamiaceae, which usually have simple leaves. The leafy stems terminate in dense, short spikes of flowers with tubular 2-lipped white or pink flowers.

The genus name is a diminutive of Cedrus, though the only connection between this herb and the large conifers of Cedrus is a vaguely similar resinous scent of the foliage.

Cultivation

Grown outdoors in mild climates, these perennials need protection in a sunny position in the herb garden and moist, well-drained soil. In cool climates they can be grown in a sunny conservatory. Water freely in the growing season. Propagate from seed or from cuttings.

References

  1. ^ "The Plant List".
  2. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^ "Cedronella". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ^ Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium (1976). Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 9780025054707.
  • David Bramwell and Zoë Bramwell. Wild Flowers of the Canary Islands. Editorial Rueda, Madrid, España. 2001. ISBN 84-7207-129-4
  • J. R. Press and M. J. Short. Flora of Madeira. Natural History Museum, UK. 1994. ISBN 0-11-310017-5

External links